Always wanted a solar-powered car and several hundred thousand euros to spend? Researchers at Twente University may have exactly what you are looking for.

The university’s team of solar researchers have put their 21Connect vehicle, which took part in the 2011 solar race across Australia, up for sale.

Bright red, streamlined and with just 4,000 km on the clock, the 21Connect is up for grabs on Dutch online auction Marktplaats.nl. Bidding for the car, which has a maximum speed of 140 kph, had topped €317,000 by Sunday.

The students plan to put the money raised into the production of a new solar powered car and say the sale is not a stunt.

‘We want to sell this solar powered car to a serious bidder who will give the 21Connect the place it deserves,’ said spokeswoman Justine Wolters in an online statement.

‘The car has taken years of hard work to build, all the parts were designed and assembled by hand,’ the Marktplaats advert states. ‘There is only one of its kind in the world.’

The team is again taking part in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia, which starts on October 18 and say they have high hopes of winning this year.